First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 2/4/2021. |
| Dave’s Music Database – Songs:The Top 2% |
This page has been consolidated with "The Top Songs of All Time - Part 1. You can see it here. |
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First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 2/4/2021. |
| Dave’s Music Database – Songs:The Top 2% |
This page has been consolidated with "The Top Songs of All Time - Part 1. You can see it here. |
First posted 3/27/2020. |
| Radio & Records/ Mediabase: Songs of the Year1973-2019 |
Radio & Records was an independent trade publication which published a weekly pop songs chart as a competitor to Billboard magazine. It ran from October 3, 1973 to August 4, 2006, when it was taken over by Mediabase, who has continued the chart to present day. All songs to hit #1 during that period have been sorted by most weeks atop the chart. Ties were broken based on songs’ overall points in Dave’s Music Database. Here then are the top songs each year from 1973 to present according to Radio & Records/Mediabase. You can also see a list of the chart’s all-time songs here. Note: the year reflects when the song was first released, not necessarily the year it hit #1.
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First posted 3/27/2020. |
| USA’s Biggest #1 Pop Songs:1890-2019 |
These are the songs from each year from 1890 to 2019 which spent the most weeks at #1 on the pop charts in the United States. These songs could have hit #1 on any of the following charts:
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First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 3/26/2020. |
| Top 100 Songs of the Decade:1900-1909 |
These are the top 100 songs from the first ten years of the 20th century according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists.
1. You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)…Billy Murray (1906)
11. My Gal Sal…Byron Harlan (1907)
21. Nobody…Bert Williams (1906)
31. Toyland…Haydn Quartet with Corrine Morgan (1904)
41. Navajo…Billy Murray (1904)
51. The Mansion of Aching Hearts…Harry MacDonough (1902)
61. The Good Old U.S.A….Byron Harlan (1906)
71. Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder…Harry MacDonough (1901)
81. Alexander (Don’t You Love Your Baby No More?)…Billy Murray (1904)
91. Nobody’s Little Girl…Byron Harlan (1907) |
First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 3/26/2020. |
| Top 100 Songs of the Decade:1910-1919 |
These are the top 100 songs from the 1910s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists.
1. Alexander’s Ragtime Band...Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan (1911)
11. After You’ve Gone...Marion Harris (1919)
21. Beautiful Ohio...Henry Burr (1919)
31. Oh, You Beautiful Doll...Billy Murray with the American Quartet (1911)
41. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot…Fisk University Jubilee Quartet (1910)
51. Goodbye, Good Luck, God Bless You (Is All That I Can Say)...Henry Burr (1916)
61. Play That Barber-Shop Chord...Bert Williams (1910)
71. I’m on My Way to Mandalay…Henry Burr with Albert Campbell (1914)
81. When I Was Twenty-One and You Were Sweet Sixteen…Henry Burr & Albert Campbell (1912)
91. Over There…Peerless Quartet (1917) |
First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 3/25/2020. |
| Top 100 Songs of the Decade:1920-1929 |
These are the top 100 songs from the 1920s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists.
1. Swanee...Al Jolson (1920)
11. Ain’t Misbehavin’...Thomas “Fats” Waller (1929)
21. Rhapsody in Blue...Paul Whiteman with George Gershwin (1924)
31. Yes! We Have No Bananas...Billy Jones (1923)
41. Ain’t She Sweet...Ben Bernie with Scrappy Lambert & Billy Hillpot (1927)
51. Who?...George Olsen (1926)
61. I’m Sitting on Top of the World...Al Jolson (1926)
71. I’ll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time...Charles Harrison (1920)
81. Among My Souvenirs…Paul Whiteman with Jack Fulton, Charles Gaylord, & Austin Young (1928)
91. Hot Lips (He's Got Hot Lips When He Plays Jazz)…Paul Whiteman (1922) |
First posted 4/4/2012; last updated 3/25/2020. |
| Top 100 Songs of the Decade:1930-1939 |
These are the top 100 songs from the 1930s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists.
1. Over the Rainbow...Judy Garland (1939)
11. Silent Night...Bing Crosby (1935)
21. Strange Fruit...Billie Holiday (1939)
31. The Peanut Vendor (El Manisero)...Don Azpiazu with Antonio Machin (1930)
41. 42nd Street...Don Bestor with Dudley Mecum (1933)
51. Honeysuckle Rose...Thomas “Fats” Waller (1935)
61. A Fine Romance (A Sarcastic Love Song)…Fred Astaire with Johnny Green & His Orchestra (1936)
71. Red Sails in the Sunset…Guy & Carmen Lombardo (1935)
81. Beer Barrell Polka...Will Glahe (1939)
91. When the Saints Go Marching In...Louis Armstrong (1939) |
image from npr.org
The National Recording Registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. The Librarian of Congress appoints members to the National Recording Preservation Board which, since 2002, has selected 25 recordings annually for preservation in the Library of Congress. As the website says, the recordings showcase “the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness.” This particular page lists songs which have inducted into the Registry.
image from npr.org
The National Recording Registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. The Librarian of Congress appoints members to the National Recording Preservation Board which, since 2002, has selected 25 recordings annually for preservation in the Library of Congress. As the website says, the recordings showcase “the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness.”
This particular page lists albums which have inducted into the Registry. Dave’s Music Database uses a broad definition of album which includes studio albums, live albums, box sets, compilations, album-length classical works, soundtracks, and cast albums.